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Live from the MET (2013-2014)

Hey, y'all!

Since we've been discussing the Eugene Onegin production, I thought we might devote a thread to the Live from the Met series for 2013-2014. Which Live from the Met operas are you planning to see? If you've already seen one, tell us about it! Did it meet with your expectations? Are there any operas you would like the MET to bring to the big screen?

Oh yes. I'd like them to ditch the re-runs of Tosca and Cenerentola and show their productions of Die Frau ohne Schatten and Midsummer Night's Dream instead. C'mon Met, Britten's 100th this year, Strauss's 150th next year if you needed an excuse.

That said I'm definitely going to see Eugene Onegin, The Nose, Prince Igor, Werther, Rusalka and Falstaff. I'll decide about the others closer to the time, although I know I won't bother with Tosca, and La Boheme is unlikely.

Of remaining forthcoming broadcasts, the one I'm waiting for is Rusalka. In Onegin interview Beczała claimed he's happy to finally sing in traditional production of this opera without regie excesses. I feel the same way from auditor's perspective. This opera isn't among my favorities but well staged and sung, it may be highly enjoyable. I'm wondering about how Fleming does these days though, didn't hear anything really recent from her.

Of remaining forthcoming broadcasts, the one I'm waiting for is Rusalka. In Onegin interview Beczała claimed he's happy to finally sing in traditional production of this opera without regie excesses. I feel the same way from auditor's perspective. This opera isn't among my favorities but well staged and sung, it may be highly enjoyable. I'm wondering about how Fleming does these days though, didn't hear anything really recent from her.

Met “Live in HD” broadcast of La Boheme. Maybe I’m an old grump …

Which Live from the Met operas are you planning to see? If you've already seen one, tell us about it! Did it meet with your expectations?

Yesterday I experienced my first “Live in HD” Met broadcast in a movie theater: La Boheme. Following are my opinions, FWIW.

Overall I’d grade the experience as a “D” – i.e., poor quality. I left after the 3rd Act. (And I love La Boheme.) My dissatisfaction is based on:

1. The sound was too loud for my tastes, and in my opinion the audio quality wasn’t very good. In comparison, when watching/listening to a high quality Blu-ray opera recording in my home I experience far better quality audio. At home I often experience a “magical moment” when listening to opera via one of my hi-fi systems, where I “get lost in the music”. This never happened in the movie theater. Instead I often found myself with my fingers covering my ears.

2. The video quality was underwhelming. Yes, the movie screen was big. However, the “black level” was very poor - everything looked hazy. Overall the video quality looked comparable to a 1990s DVD, vs. state-of-the-art Blu-ray when viewed on my plasma HDTV.

3. Then, there’s the audience in the movie theater. I changed seats between Acts because someone in the row behind me was laughing out loud every minute or so during the first 2 Acts. Additionally, people were making noise opening plastic food wrappers. Not my idea of how to enjoy opera.

4. Finally, for me the smell of the popcorn/“butter” was unpleasant and overpowering. There was no escaping the smell – it permeated the theater, lobby, and hallways. This alone was enough to ruin the day for me.

At the risk of sounding like an old grump – never again will I attend a Met “Live in HD” broadcast in a movie theater. I’d much prefer to watch a high quality Blu-ray recording in my home – or better yet a “live, in person” performance in an opera house. (In the past year I’ve seen live performances of La Boheme twice, and enjoyed both.)

I know … “Other than that, how did you like the play, Mr. Lincoln?” …

Perhaps in other movie theaters in other cities the Met broadcasts are a wonderful experience. What have TC’ers experienced?

Even though I saw it in 2009, I am going to the CENERENTOLA showing in May, just because CENERENTOLA is my favorite opera and I'm thinking it might be my last chance to see my favorite buffo, Alessandro Corbelli, on the big screen. I went to EUGENE ONEGIN in October and enjoyed it, though on the whole not as much as the 2007 production with Hvorostovsky and Fleming.

I saw la Boheme and did find it a very enjoyable experience. Of course it is one remove as it is it in a movie theatre and not actually in the Opera house. Nothing actually beats being there.
I also had to change seats. A couple of ladies in front of me went and got a couple of bags of popcorn during the interval we stay then devoured it through the last act. In my opinion eating popcorn during an opera should be a capital offence! So I moved.
Apart from someone (an older man) rustling a bag during the love duet the audience was pretty well-behaved. No real problems.
The sound of the broadcast was a bit loud but not unbearable.
I'll certainly be planning to attend more next broadcasts, especially the Cosi later this month.
I also greatly enjoyed the broadcast of Falstaff from the Met.

Yesterday I experienced my first “Live in HD” Met broadcast in a movie theater: La Boheme. Following are my opinions, FWIW.

Overall I’d grade the experience as a “D” – i.e., poor quality. I left after the 3rd Act. (And I love La Boheme.) My dissatisfaction is based on:

1. The sound was too loud for my tastes, and in my opinion the audio quality wasn’t very good. In comparison, when watching/listening to a high quality Blu-ray opera recording in my home I experience far better quality audio. At home I often experience a “magical moment” when listening to opera via one of my hi-fi systems, where I “get lost in the music”. This never happened in the movie theater. Instead I often found myself with my fingers covering my ears.

2. The video quality was underwhelming. Yes, the movie screen was big. However, the “black level” was very poor - everything looked hazy. Overall the video quality looked comparable to a 1990s DVD, vs. state-of-the-art Blu-ray when viewed on my plasma HDTV.

3. Then, there’s the audience in the movie theater. I changed seats between Acts because someone in the row behind me was laughing out loud every minute or so during the first 2 Acts. Additionally, people were making noise opening plastic food wrappers. Not my idea of how to enjoy opera.

4. Finally, for me the smell of the popcorn/“butter” was unpleasant and overpowering. There was no escaping the smell – it permeated the theater, lobby, and hallways. This alone was enough to ruin the day for me.

At the risk of sounding like an old grump – never again will I attend a Met “Live in HD” broadcast in a movie theater. I’d much prefer to watch a high quality Blu-ray recording in my home – or better yet a “live, in person” performance in an opera house. (In the past year I’ve seen live performances of La Boheme twice, and enjoyed both.)

I know … “Other than that, how did you like the play, Mr. Lincoln?” …

Perhaps in other movie theaters in other cities the Met broadcasts are a wonderful experience. What have TC’ers experienced?

I saw la Boheme and did find it a very enjoyable experience. Of course it is one remove as it is it in a movie theatre and not actually in the Opera house. Nothing actually beats being there.
I also had to change seats. A couple of ladies in front of me went and got a couple of bags of popcorn during the interval we stay then devoured it through the last act. In my opinion eating popcorn during an opera should be a capital offence! So I moved.
Apart from someone (an older man) rustling a bag during the love duet the audience was pretty well-behaved. No real problems.
The sound of the broadcast was a bit loud but not unbearable.
I'll certainly be planning to attend more next broadcasts, especially the Cosi later this month.
I also greatly enjoyed the broadcast of Falstaff from the Met.

An old man. Rustling a bag. Why that's just... sad.

"No preluding! Piano pianissimo -- then all will be well." (Posted in the orchestra pit on August 13, 1876)

Saw Onegin some time ago. The audience was pretty ok, which I had expected to be much worse. Picture and sound quality was ok, but there were many hickups. Worse, there were no subtitles. This all at 35 euro, which I think is too much. Curious to know what others paid.

2. The video quality was underwhelming. Yes, the movie screen was big. However, the “black level” was very poor - everything looked hazy. Overall the video quality looked comparable to a 1990s DVD, vs. state-of-the-art Blu-ray when viewed on my plasma HDTV.

4. Finally, for me the smell of the popcorn/“butter” was unpleasant and overpowering. There was no escaping the smell – it permeated the theater, lobby, and hallways. This alone was enough to ruin the day for me.

Saw Onegin some time ago. The audience was pretty ok, which I had expected to be much worse. Picture and sound quality was ok, but there were many hickups. Worse, there were no subtitles. This all at 35 euro, which I think is too much. Curious to know what others paid.